2002–03 Celtic League

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2002–03 Celtic League
CountriesIreland Ireland
 Scotland
 Wales
ChampionsIreland Munster (1st title)
Runners-upWales Neath
Matches played63
Attendance308,374
(average 4,895 per match)
Tries scored302
(average 4.8 per match)
Top point scorerBrendan Laney (Edinburgh)
137 points[1]
Top try scorerMossie Lawlor (Munster)
Craig Morgan (Cardiff)
Mike Mullins (Munster)
6 tries[2]
Official website
www.rabodirectpro12.com

The 2002–03 Celtic League was the second season of the Celtic League, a rugby union tournament involving teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Teams[edit]

class=notpageimage|
Location of 2002–03 Celtic League teams in Scotland and Ireland.
class=notpageimage|
Location of 2002–03 Celtic League teams in Wales.
Pool A; Pool B.
Team Stadium Capacity City, Area
Scotland Borders Netherdale[a] 6,000 Galashiels, Scotland
Wales Bridgend Brewery Field 6,000 Bridgend, Wales
Wales Caerphilly Virginia Park 5,000 Caerphilly, Wales
Wales Cardiff Cardiff Arms Park 12,500 Cardiff, Wales
Ireland Connacht Galway Sportsgrounds 6,000 Galway, Republic of Ireland
Wales Ebbw Vale Eugene Cross Park 8,000 Ebbw Vale, Wales
Scotland Edinburgh Meadowbank Stadium 16,500 Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland Glasgow Hughenden Stadium 6,000 Glasgow, Scotland
Ireland Leinster Donnybrook Stadium 6,000 Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Wales Llanelli Stradey Park 10,800 Llanelli, Wales
Ireland Munster Thomond Park
Musgrave Park 		13,200
8,500 		Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Cork, Republic of Ireland
Wales Neath The Gnoll 6,000 Neath, Wales
Wales Newport Rodney Parade 11,676 Newport, Wales
Wales Pontypridd Sardis Road 7,861 Pontypridd, Wales
Wales Swansea St Helen's 4,500 Swansea, Wales
Ireland Ulster Ravenhill 12,300 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Pool stage[edit]

The teams were split into two pools and the pool stage consisted of a single round-robin; each team played the others in its pool once only.

Pool A Table[edit]

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Ireland Munster 7 6 0 1 227 129 +98 25 12 4 0 28
2 Scotland Edinburgh 7 6 0 1 231 145 +86 24 13 2 1 27
3 Ireland Ulster 7 5 0 2 173 111 +62 15 9 1 1 22
4 Wales Neath 7 4 0 3 153 121 +32 15 12 1 1 18
5 Wales Llanelli 7 3 0 4 191 168 +23 23 16 3 2 17
6 Wales Swansea 7 3 0 4 177 212 −35 18 22 3 1 16
7 Wales Ebbw Vale 7 1 0 6 140 226 −86 16 27 1 0 5
8 Wales Caerphilly 7 0 0 7 144 324 −180 17 42 2 1 3

Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool A Fixtures[edit]

30 August 2002
19:00
Neath Wales25–6Wales Caerphilly
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:15
Ebbw Vale Wales0–19Ireland Ulster
Report[3]Try: Wallace
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (4)
Eugene Cross Park
Referee: Dave Pearson
30 August 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland30–20Wales Swansea
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,141
31 August 2002
19:05
Llanelli Wales13–20Ireland Munster
Report
Stradey Park
6 September 2002
19:05
Swansea Wales16–20Wales Neath
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 4,000
6 September 2002
19:30
Ulster Ireland18–19Scotland Edinburgh
Pen: Wallace (6)Report[4]Try: Laney
Con: Laney
Pen: Laney (3)
Drop: Hodge
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,500
6 September 2002
19:35
Munster Ireland48–23Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 3,500
7 September 2002
14:30
Caerphilly Wales34–43Wales Llanelli
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 1,300
13 September 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland21–28Ireland Munster
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 4,500
14 September 2002
14:30
Ebbw Vale Wales45–25Wales Caerphilly
Report
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 1,000
14 September 2002
14:30
Swansea Wales38–10Ireland Ulster
Try: K. Morgan, Robinson, Gibbs, Payne
Con: A. Thomas (3)
Pen: A. Thomas (4)		Report[5]Try: Howe
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500
14 September 2002
17:30
Neath Wales29–13Wales Llanelli
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 6,000
20 September 2002
19:30
Ulster Ireland17–13Wales Neath
Try: B. Cunningham, Howe
Con: Doak (2)
Pen: Doak		Report[6]Try: S. Williams
Con: Jarvis
Pen: Jarvis (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,500
20 September 2002
19:35
Munster Ireland38–27Wales Swansea
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,000
21 September 2002
14:30
Caerphilly Wales32–66Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Virginia Park
Attendance: 800
21 September 2002
14:30
Llanelli Wales37–25Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 3,000
27 September 2002
19:05
Neath Wales34–7Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 3,500
27 September 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland38–14Wales Llanelli
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,890
27 September 2002
19:35
Ulster Ireland26–17Ireland Munster
Try: Doak (2)
Con: Doak (2)
Pen: Doak (2)		Report[7]Try: Lawler
Pen: Staunton (2)
Drop: Staunton, Holland
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: P. Adams
28 September 2002
14:30
Swansea Wales37–32Wales Caerphilly
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,500
4 October 2002
19:05
Llanelli Wales62–6Wales Swansea
Report
Stradey Park
Attendance: 6,883
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland) [8]
5 October 2002
14:30
Caerphilly Wales15–67Ireland Ulster
Try: Chiltern (2)
Con: McLaughlin
Pen: McLaughlin		Report[9][10]Try: Neil Best (2), Howe, Brosnihan, McWhirter, Stewart, Bell, Sexton
Con: Humphreys (6)
Pen: Humphreys (5)
Virginia Park
Attendance: 750
5 October 2002
14:30
Ebbw Vale Wales20–30Scotland Edinburgh
Report
Eugene Cross Park
5 October 2002
17:30
Neath Wales19–35Ireland Munster
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 4,000
25 October 2002
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland27–13Wales Neath
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,171
25 October 2002
19:30
Munster Ireland41–0Wales Caerphilly
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 2,532
25 October 2002
19:35
Ulster Ireland16–9Wales Llanelli
Try: Doak
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys
Drop: Humphreys		Report[11]Pen: Jones (3)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: John Hogg
26 October 2002
14:30
Swansea Wales33–20Wales Ebbw Vale
Report
St Helen's
Attendance: 2,000

Pool B Table[edit]

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Wales Pontypridd 7 6 0 1 182 120 +62 15 12 2 0 26
2 Scotland Glasgow 7 5 0 2 216 166 +50 22 20 2 1 23
3 Wales Cardiff 7 4 0 3 178 151 +27 17 12 2 2 20
4 Ireland Connacht 7 5 0 2 126 176 −50 11 17 0 0 20
5 Ireland Leinster 7 3 0 4 191 154 +37 22 14 3 3 18
6 Scotland Borders 7 2 0 5 142 169 −27 15 11 1 3 12
7 Wales Bridgend 7 2 0 5 127 187 −60 11 20 1 1 10
8 Wales Newport 7 1 0 6 121 160 −39 9 16 0 4 8

Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool B Fixtures[edit]

30 August 2002
19:05
Newport Wales5–13Wales Bridgend
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,165
30 August 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland27–28Ireland Connacht
Report
Philiphaugh
Attendance: 3,000
30 August 2002
19:35
Leinster Ireland31–18Wales Pontypridd
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 4,500
31 August 2002
14:30
Cardiff Wales35–44Scotland Glasgow
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,000
6 September 2002
18:00
Connacht Ireland23–22Wales Cardiff
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 2,500
6 September 2002
19:30
Glasgow Scotland25–21Ireland Leinster
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 4,250
7 September 2002
14:30
Bridgend Wales41–9Scotland Borders
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 3,000
7 September 2002
19:05
Pontypridd Wales21–16Wales Newport
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,800
13 September 2002
19:05
Bridgend Wales9–26Wales Pontypridd
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 4,500
13 September 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland15–18Wales Cardiff
Report
Mansfield Park
Attendance: 4,213
13 September 2002
19:35
Leinster Ireland23–26Ireland Connacht
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 6,000
14 September 2002
14:30
Newport Wales25–31Scotland Glasgow
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,500
20 September 2002
17:45
Connacht Ireland18–12Wales Newport
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 3,000
20 September 2002
19:05
Pontypridd Wales28–27Scotland Borders
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 4,600
20 September 2002
19:30
Glasgow Scotland47–11Wales Bridgend
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 4,500
21 September 2002
17:30
Cardiff Wales30–17Ireland Leinster
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 6,500
27 September 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland23–18Ireland Leinster
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 4,000
28 September 2002
14:30
Bridgend Wales23–24Ireland Connacht
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 2,000
28 September 2002
14:30
Pontypridd Wales34–28Scotland Glasgow
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 5,500
28 September 2002
17:30
Newport Wales25–27Wales Cardiff
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 8,118
4 October 2002
19:30
Borders Scotland33–12Scotland Glasgow
Report
Netherdale
Attendance: 5,500
4 October 2002
19:35
Leinster Ireland42–14Wales Newport
Report
Donnybrook
Attendance: 6,000
5 October 2002
14:30
Cardiff Wales37–12Wales Bridgend
Report
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,500
5 October 2002
15:00
Connacht Ireland0–40Wales Pontypridd
Report
Sportsground
Attendance: 3,000
25 October 2002
19:30
Glasgow Scotland29–7Ireland Connacht
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 3,250
26 October 2002
14:30
Bridgend Wales18–39Ireland Leinster
Report
Brewery Field
Attendance: 1,000
26 October 2002
14:30
Newport Wales24–8Scotland Borders
Report
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,700
26 October 2002
17:30
Pontypridd Wales15–9Wales Cardiff
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 7,500

Knockout stages[edit]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
29 November 2002 – Musgrave Park
 
 
Ireland Munster33
 
3 January 2003 – Thomond Park
 
Ireland Connacht3
 
Ireland Munster42
 
30 November 2002 – Hughenden
 
Ireland Ulster10
 
Scotland Glasgow17
 
1 February 2003 – Millennium Stadium
 
Ireland Ulster20
 
Ireland Munster37
 
29 November 2002 – Sardis Road
 
Wales Neath17
 
Wales Pontypridd12
 
4 January 2003 – The Gnoll
 
Wales Neath13
 
Wales Neath32
 
30 November 2002 – Meadowbank
 
Wales Cardiff10
 
Scotland Edinburgh22
 
 
Wales Cardiff26
 

Quarter finals[edit]

29 November 2002
19:05
Pontypridd Wales12–13Wales Neath
Report
Sardis Road
Attendance: 6,000
29 November 2002
19:35
Munster Ireland33–3Ireland Connacht
Report
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,000
30 November 2002
14:45
Glasgow Scotland17–20Ireland Ulster
Report
Hughenden
Attendance: 5,346
30 November 2002
17:30
Edinburgh Scotland22–26Wales Cardiff
Report
Meadowbank
Attendance: 3,918

Semi finals[edit]

3 January 2003
19:35
Munster Ireland42–10Ireland Ulster
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 12,000
4 January 2003
17:30
Neath Wales32–10Wales Cardiff
Report
The Gnoll
Attendance: 6,471

Final[edit]

1 February 2003
14:45
Munster Ireland37–17Wales Neath
Try: Alan Quinlan
Marcus Horan
Rob Henderson
Con: Jeremy Staunton (2)
Pen: Jeremy Staunton (2)
Ronan O'Gara (4)		ReportTry: Adam Jones
Pen: Lee Jarvis (3)
Drop: Lee Jarvis
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 30,076
Referee: Chris White (England)
15 Jeremy Staunton
14 John Kelly
13 Mike Mullins
12 Jason Holland
11 Mossie Lawlor
10 Ronan O'Gara
9 Peter Stringer
8 Anthony Foley
7 Alan Quinlan
6 Jim Williams (c)
5 Mick O'Driscoll
4 Donncha O'Callaghan
3 John Hayes
2 Frankie Sheahan
1 Marcus Horan
Replacements:
16 James Blaney
17 Martin Cahill
18 Mick Galwey
19 Denis Leamy
20 Mike Prendergast
21 Rob Henderson
22 Killian Keane
Coach:
Alan Gaffney
15 Adrian Durston
14 Gareth Morris
13 James Storey
12 Tevita Tiueti
11 Shane Williams
10 Lee Jarvis
9 Andy Moore
8 Nathan Bonner-Evans
7 Brett Sinkinson
6 Alivereti 'Alfi' Mocelutu
5 Gareth Llewellyn (c)
4 Andy Newman
3 Adam Jones
2 Barry Williams
1 Duncan Jones
Replacements:
16 Allan Bateman
17 Shaun Connor
18 Steve Tandy
19 Adam Matthews
20 Rowland Phillips
21 Lyndon Bateman
22 Andrew Millward
Coach:
Lyn Jones

Leading scorers[edit]

Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-IRB nationalities.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Borders also played matches at Philiphaugh Stadium, Selkirk and Mansfield Park, Hawick.

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Scrappy victory for Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 August 2002
  4. ^ Gavin Mairs "Last gasp agony for jaded Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 7 September 2002
  5. ^ "Swansea's blistering pace exposes Ulster's deficiencies", Irish Independent, 15 September 2002
  6. ^ "Ulster edge out Neath", BBC Sport, 20 September 2002
  7. ^ "Doak one-man show just too much for Munster", Irish Independent, 28 September 2002
  8. ^ "'We got what we deserved' - Connolly". www.walesonline.co.uk. 5 October 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  9. ^ Mark McAuley, "Over and rout... Ulster whip the Welsh boyos", Sunday Life", 6 October 2002
  10. ^ "Ulster hammer Caerphilly", BBC Sport, 5 October 2002
  11. ^ "Ulster sneak past Llanelli", BBC Sport, 25 October 2002
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